AKIRA Movie - Production Put on Hold by Warner Bros.
Once again, things are not looking too good for Akira. THR is reporting that Warner Bros. is in the process of closing the film's Vancover production offices because of budgetary concerns. All below-the-line talent and crew have been told to stop working. “Everybody is being sent home,” according to an insider.
Director Jaume Collet-Serra is going to meet with the films producers (Appian Way’s Jennifer Kiloran Davisson and Mad Chance’s Andrew Lazar) to work on the script in order to cut costs. Harry Potter scribe Steve Kloves already did an expensive rewrite a year ago, and may be brought in to help out. Insiders close to the project have said that if the issues can not be resolved the project will be shelved.
Collet-Serra was already able to cut the budget in half when he took over for director Albert Hughes. The current budget is in the $90 million range, which the studio still feels is too high. The only star signed on is Tron: Legacy's Garrett Hedlund. Kristen Stewart, Ken Wattanabe, and Helena Bonham Carter are currently in various stages of negotiations, but that is not enough star power for that type of budget. The studio hopes to bring the budget down to between $60 and $70 million.
Akira has had a rough road since it's announced. The project has had both Rauiri Robinson and Hughes involved as directors before dropping off. Collet-Serra was able to get Akira green-lit. The adaptation of the classic Japanese manga is plannned as "an Americanized story set in a post-apocalyptic New Manhattan, where a motorcycle gang leader (Hedlund) must stop his brother and fellow gang member from abusing his newly acquired telekinetic powers."
Warner Bros. is also having budgetary concerns with David Dobkin's Arthur and Lancelot, but sources say they are not likely to let Akira go down without a fight. This budget makes a lot more sense to me than the bloated budget of The Lone Ranger.
What are your thoughts?